The State Government is striving not only to ensure regular supply of drinking water to the people of the State but also endeavours are directed towards bringing more and more area under irrigation. At present about 7940 drinking water supply schemes are being implemented in the state.
After having provided water to all census villages in the State, the Government has been focusing on provision supply of drinking water to left out habitations.
Out of 53205 habitations, 41418 habitations have been provided with drinking water facilities so far. During the last three and half years, 17787 habitations have been covered under drinking water supply scheme. During the current financial year, a target has been fixed to provide drinking water supply to as many as 2557 habitations. Awareness camps are being organised at Panchayat level to ensure Rural Drinking Water Management. During last three and half years, training in Rural Drinking Water Management has been imparted to 8040 officials at Panchayat level.
To test the quality of drinking water, 1650 Panchayats have been provided with water testing kits. The remaining Panchayats will also be provided with the same till December, 2011. The State Government has accorded approval to three ambitious drinking water supply schemes. These schemes entail an expenditure of Rs. 172.22 crore and will provide drinking water to about 1171 habitations. This includes Rs. 68.33 crore water supply scheme augmentation in NC/PC habitations of Changer area, Rs. 39.23 crore drinking water supply scheme in Paragpur and Jaswan area and Rs. 64.66 crore drinking water scheme in Sadar, Ghumarwin and Jhandutta Block of district Bilaspur.
The State Government has accorded priority for setting up of hand pumps in areas facing water scarcity. In last three and half years, 8755 hand pumps have been set up and a target to set up 2500 hand pumps has been fixed in the current fiscal. Out of 56 towns, Sewerage Schemes have been implemented in about 15 towns and the work is in progress in 24 towns.
For ensuring the sustainability of these schemes, attention is being paid to rain water harvesting, construction of check dams. Water Management Board has been constituted for ensuring proper use and management of water resources in the State.
The biggest rural drinking water supply augmentation scheme in Changer areas of Kangra district covering Dehra, Khundian, Jaisinghpur, Palampur tehsils and completed at a cost of Rs 68.33 crore was recently dedicated to the people of the area. This would benefit a population of 1,31,293 of 564 habitations in 35 Gram Panchayats.
During the last three and half years, nearly 21800 hectare area has been covered under large, medium and small irrigation schemes. Approval to Rs 147.15 crore Fina Singh Medium Irrigation Scheme has been granted. An area of 4025 hectare in Nurpur Tehsil will be covered under this scheme. Similarly a proposal for Rs 92.42 crore Medium Irrigation Scheme has been sent to Government of India for approval. This will provide irrigation facilities to around 3000 hectare area in Hamirpur district. Due to the persistent efforts of the State Government, shelf of 191 small irrigation schemes to the tune of Rs. 185.72 crore and covering an area of 26,652 hectare has been got approved by the Government of India.
Keeping in view the concerted efforts of the State Government, the day is not far when every household will be provided drinking water and every farm in the State will be covered under irrigation.
